LAS VEGAS — The membership of the Tire Industry Association (TIA) approved a resolution at the trade group's recent annual meeting in Las Vegas renewing support for federal Right to Repair (R2R) legislation.
The Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act (H.R. 6570) — introduced in February by U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill. — would preserve consumer access to quality, affordable vehicle repair by ensuring that vehicle owners and independent repair shops have equal access to repair and maintenance tools and data as car companies and licensed dealerships.
TIA deems current law inadequate to address the growing competitive concerns created by new vehicle technology that controls virtually every function of new vehicles from brakes, to steering, to air bags, to fuel delivery, to theft protection and tire pressure.
The resolution states TIA will support the REPAIR Act and continue to explore other options for federal legislation that would support the motor vehicle owner's right to repair. In addition, it urges the authorizing committees within Congress to consider the REPAIR Act.
TIA plans to work with the Federal Trade Commission on future legislation to ensure that independent repair facilities have access to vehicle information and to ensure the consumer ability to choose the repair facility of their choice.
Right to Repair remains a top priority for TIA members and a national law would provide for much needed clarity and direction in vehicle repair.
With its passage, the resolution will be added to all other resolutions adopted by the association previously to dictate association policy. TIA said it plans to share the resolution with other trade associations, tire manufacturers, all 435 members of the House of Representatives and the 100 U.S. senators.
